Universal actuating mechanism



Aug. 3, 1954 o. E. HUKARI UNIVERSAL 'ACTUATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 14, 1949 INVENTOR ORMANDEHUKARI ATTORNEY 3, 1954 o. E. HUKARI 2,685,352

UNIVERSAL ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /,1| @E- 4 T 52 51 4| INVENTOR ORMANDEHUKARI 4- l5 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIVERSAL ACTUATING MECHANISM Ormand E. Hukari, Hood River, Oreg.

Application November 14, 1949, Serial No. 126,997

11 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in universal actuating mechanisms and is particularly adapted for actuating a multiple jointed boom similar to the boom which is disclosed in my now pending application Serial Number 107,309, filed July 28, 1949, on Articulated Platforms for Workmen.

An object of my invention is to provide an arrangement to transmit power by a belt or chain while changing the angle of the plane of their pulleys or'sprockets, respectively, relative to the center lines of their shafts.

Another object of my'invention is to provide a boom actuating mechanism capable of rotating a boom around a vertical axis while the boom is being raised or lowered about a horizontal axis.

Another object of my invention is to provide a power transmitting mechanism for turning a boom about a vertical support axis, which mechanism is operable through a wide range of different elevations to which the boom may be adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism particularly adapted for, but not necessarily limited to, the operation of my new and improved articulated platform for workmen mounted upon articulately connected booms, disclosed in the above mentioned pending application.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universal actuating mechanism capable of exerting considerable power within a limited amount of space.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings, specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a multiple jointed boom having my new and improved universal actuating mechanism associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a plan sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, parts being broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 4 is an end sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail plan view of the universal sprocket partially broken away for convenience of illustration.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the control element used to guide the universal sprocket in unison with the boom.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken on line 'I-'1 of Figure 2, illustrating the chain, its guide and the power take off from the fluid cylinder.

Referring more specifically to the drawings;

The parallel boom members I and 2 form part of the primary boom, part of which is not here shown. The secondary boom members 3 and 4 are pivotally mounted at 6 and 1 onbrackets 9 and 9', respectively. which are rotatably mounted on the non-rotating vertical shaft 5, permitting the boom to rotate about the said shaft. Collar 49 also is rotatably mounted on the shaft. The vertical shaft 5 does not rotate and is pivotally mounted at H) and II to the booms'l and 2 by way of the bracket l2 and the base l3. The base l3 (Fig. 3) is keyed to the vertical shaft '5 by way of the key l4 or other suitable means of securing the same thereto. The bracket I2 is either welded or keyed to the shaft 5.

The bracket 9' revolves about the shaft 5, best illustrated in Figure 3, resting upon the base I3. The bracket 9' has an arm l5 to which is pivotally mounted the fluid cylinder 16 at IT. The piston rod l8 of the cylinder [6 is pivotally connected to the boom members 3 at [9. When fluid is applied to the cylinder I6 by valve control mechanism and fluid supply, not here shown, the boom members 3 and 4 are raised and lowered parallel to one another clue to the fact that they are pivotally connected at 20 and 2! to the vertical members 22 to which in this case is secured a platform 23 upon which an operator stands.

To revolve the boom members 3 and 4 around the vertical shaft 5 while the said members are being raised and lowered by the fluid cylinder I6 an endless chain 24 is trained about universal sprockets 25 and an idler sprocket 25. The universal sprockets 25, referringto Figures 3 and 5, are spaced apart and adapted to embrace a guiding ring 21. The sprockets are bolted together by suitable bolts 28 through the annular raised shoulders 29 providing the space 30 for the said guiding ring 21.

The sprocket assembly, as above described, is pivotally mounted to -a universal ring 31, which has pins 32 forming part thereof and extending into the sockets 33 (Fig. 3) of the sprocket assembly. This permits the sprocket to pivot in one direction in the well known manner of universal connections. The universal ring 3| is pivotally connected to the pins 34 forming part of the hub 35. The hub 35 is keyed to the vertical shaft 5, and therefore the sprockets are indirectly keyed to the said shaft preventing them from rotating relative to the shaft while permitting them to tilt in any direction.

Referring to Figure 2, the idler sprocket Z6 is journalled to the cross head 36, which is adjustably positioned by the turnbuckle rod 37, which has one of its ends connected to the cross head and its opposite end to the cross member 38, which is pivotally mounted to the cross shaft 39. Pivotally mounted to the cross shaft 33 are fluid cylinders 40. The piston rods 4| are fixedly secured to the brackets 42, which in turn are fixedly secured to the endless chain 24. When fluid is supplied from a suitable source of fluid under pressure to oppositely disposed ends of the cylinders 40 the chain 24 will revolve about the nonrotating universal sprockets 25 moving the boom members 3 and 4 around the vertical shaft 5.

Due to the universal mounting of the sprockets 25 and the pivotal mounting of the idler sprocket 26 for movement in a vertical plane the boom members 3 and 4 can be raised and lowered about their pivot points 6 and 1 without interfering with the operation of the fluid cylinders 40, or their chain and sprocket assembly while the same is moving the boom around the pivot shaft 5. In order to maintain the sprockets 25 in alignment with the chain 24 the guide ring 21 maintains the said sprockets in alignment in the following manner.

Extending from the ring 21 is an arm 43 (Fig. 3), which is pivotally connected to the cross shaft 44, said cross shaft being associated with vertical parallel bars 45. The parallel bars 45 are pivotally mounted to the boom members 4 by way of the cross rod 46 at their lower ends and pivotally connected to the links 41 at their upper ends at 48. The links 41 are pivotally connected to the rotatably mounted collar 49 at 50 at their opposite ends, thereby forming a parallelogram linkage. Therefore as the boom members 3 and 4 are raised and lowered the parallel bars 45 maintain a parallel relation between the said boom members and the arm 43 of the ring 21, thus maintaining the sprockets 25 in alignment with the chain 24.

Pivotally connected to the cross shaft 44, by way of the hubs (Fig. 4) associated with the parallel bars 45 are guideways 52 through which the chain 24 travels. The object of these guideways is to maintain the piston rods 4| in alignment when pressure is being exerted thereby.

The opposite end of the guideways are connected to the boom member 4 by way of the connecting link 53, which is pivotally connected to the cross shaft 54 between the guideways at its upper end and to the cross shaft 55 extending between the boom members 4 at its lower end. The link 53 completes a parallelogram between the guideways 52, the links 45 and the boom member 4 so that as the boom is raised and lowered the guideways will be maintained parallel to the boom member 4 and the chain 24.

While I have illustrated my new and improved universal actuating mechanism applied to the operation of a boom, I do not wish to be limited to this particular adaptation of the same, as it is equally adapted to be used in connection with shafting and sprockets between which power is transmitted but wherein the angle of the plane of the sprockets and chains are being changed relative to the center line of the shafting.

What I claim is:

1. An actuating mechanism comprising a vertical shaft, a pair of vertically spaced parallel members connected to said shaft for pivotal movement about horizontal and vertical axes, a ring sprocket pivoted to said vertical. s t for movement about a horizontal axis, a second sprocket pivotally supported from said parallel members at a distance from said vertical shaft, an endless chain trained around said sprockets, and means pivotally connected to one of said parallel members and engaging said ring sprocket to maintain the same in alignment with said endless chain irrespective of variations in the pivotal position of said parallelmembers about horizontal axes.

2. An actuating mechanism comprising a vertical shaft, a pair of vertically spaced parallel members connected to said shaft for pivotal movement about horizontal and vertical axes, a ring sprocketpivoted to said shaft for movement about a horizontal axis, a ring mounted coaxially with said sprocket and rotatably engaging the same, a second sprocket pivotally supported from said parallel members at a distance from said vertical shaft, an endless chain trained around said sprockets, and means pivotally connecting said ring to one of said parallel members to maintain said ring sprocket in alignment wit said endless chain.

3. An actuating mechanism comprising a vertical shaft, a pair of vertically spaced parallel members connected to said shaft for pivotal movement about horizontal and vertical axes, a ring sprocket pivoted to said shaft for movement about a horizontal axis, said sprocket comprising two axially spaced sections, a ring rotatably mounted co-axially of said sprocket between said sections, a second sprocket pivotally supported from said parallel members at a distance from said vertical shaft, an endless chain trained around said sprockets, and means pivotally connecting said ring to one of said parallel members to maintain said ring sprocket in alignment with said sprocket chain.

4. An actuating mechanism comprising a vertical shaft, a pair of vertically spaced parallel members connected to said shaft for pivotal movement about horizontal and vertical axes, a ring sprocket pivoted to said shaft for movement about a horizontal axis, a second sprocket pivotally supported from said parallel members at a distance from said vertical shaft, an endless chain trained around said sprockets, and a chain guide pivotally supported from one of said parallel members and said vertical shaft whereby said guide is maintained parallel to said parallel members.

5. An actuating mechanism comprising a vertical shaft, a pair of vertically spaced parallel members connected to said shaft for pivotal movement about horizontal and vertical axes, vertical bars spaced from said shaft and pivotally connecting said parallel members, a ring sprocket pivoted to said shaft for movement about two horizontal axes normal to each other, a second sprocket pivotally supported from said vertical bars, an endless chain trained around said sprockets, means pivotally connected to one of said parallel members and engaging said ring sprocket in a manner maintaining said ring sprocket in alignment with said chain irrespective of variations in the pivotal position of said parallel members about horizontal axes, and a chain guide pivotally connected to one of said parallel members and to said sprocket engaging means whereby said guide is maintained parallel to said parallel members.

6. An actuating mechanism comprising a fixed vertical shaft, a pair of vertically spaced parallel members connected to said shaft for pivotal movement about horizontal and vertical axes, a ring sprocket pivoted to said shaft for movement about a horizontal axis but restrained against rotation about said shaft, a second sprocket, means pivotally connected to said parallel members and supporting said second sprocket for free rotation, an endless chain trained around said sprockets, and means operable to turn said chain.

7. An actuating mechanism for a boom structure comprising a vertical shaft supporting said boom structure for universal pivotal movement, a ring sprocket mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis on said vertical shaft but secured against rotation thereabout, a second sprocket pivotally supported from said boom structure, a chain trained about said sprockets, and means for imparting movement to said chain.

8. An actuating mechanism for a boom structure comprising a vertical shaft supporting said boom structure for universal pivotal movement, means connected between said shaft and the boom structure for adjusting and supporting the boom structure in an adjusted pivotal position relative to a horizontal axis, a ring sprocket mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis on said vertical shaft but secured against rotation thereabout, a second shaft pivotally supported from the boom structure, a second sprocket rigidly secured thereto, a chain trained about said sprockets, and means for turning said chain to rotate the boom structure about a vertical axis.

9. Power transmitting arrangement comprising a vertical shaft, a ring sprocket supported thereon for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis but restrained against rotation thereabout,

a support element mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto and extending radially therefrom, a second shaft having a sprocket mounted thereon, a chain trained about said sprockets, and means pivotally supporting said second shaft from said support element whereby said shafts may be disposed at various angles relative to one another.

10. Universal mounting arrangement comprising a shaft, a ring sprocket mounted thereon for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis but restrained against rotation relative thereto, a supporting member universally pivoted to said shaft, adjustable means connected between said shaft and said supporting member for-supporting said supporting member in a selected pivotal position, and means pivotally interconnecting said supporting member and said ring sprocket whereby said sprocket is automatically adjusted in accord with the adjustment of said supporting member.

11. An actuating mechanism for a boom structure comprising a vertical shaft supporting said boom structure for universal pivotal movement, a wheel member mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis on said shaft but secured against rotation thereabout, a second wheel member pivotally supported from said boom structure, flexible power trainsmitting means trained about said wheel members, and means for imparting movement to said transmitting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,198,833 Galvin Sept. 19, 1916 1,708,680 Patrick Apr. 9, 1929 1,761,726 Havens June 6, 1930 2,099,998 Berg Nov. 23, 1937 2,268,569 Osgood Jan. 6, 1942 2,391,224 Carter Dec. 18, 1945 2,457,049 Lacey Dec. 21, 1948 2,500,815 Gerli Mar. 14, 1950 

